The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-02-12

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of course, think of many objections, Blu
those which occur most readily to M
now seem to weigh equally against tn
effort to infuse into our national LIT
Christian principles by any other method
Shall we cease to administer oaths
Shall we let go of the Sabbath? Shall
we withdraw our chaplains? Shall VIZ
Danish from the common schools, from
State colleges, all books, all education
all influences that have their start and
| inspiration in the Gospel of Christ? The
subject is loaded with difficulties. 1t is
one certainly that requires careful and
prayerful investigation.
1t may, however, be suggested to our
worthy friends in the National Reform
Association, that a national constitution
is not necessarily goddess because the
word "God is not in it. 1t may for all
that have more truth and righteousness
in it than others where the Divine Name
is score of times repeated. The name
of God has been cheap in some ages and
among certain peoples. Constitutions
which professedly built upon it have per-
ished. Empires that inscribe it on their
banners are no nearer saints than our
modest republic, which did not dare, or
which forgot, to stamp itself with SO
sacred word. The Jews punctuated
their statutes with the name of God,
sealed the four corners Of their govern
ment with it, but were not saved from
disintegration and dispersion. "Not
every one that saith unto me, Lordl
Lordl shall enter the kingdom of heaven"
1t is reported that Alexander Hamilton,
on his return from the Convention
in New York, on being asked by Dr.
Rogers, an eminent chaplain of the
Revolution, why the word "God" was
not placed in the constitution, replied,
Indeed, Doctor, we forgot it." Then it
was not an Intentionally atheistic act
Forgot it. Was this worse than de-
signed omission? Not necessarily. They
may have been SO intent on the Divine
things they we're doing as not at that mo-
ment to remember the source of them.
just this has happened many times in
this world. Persons have been so alb
sorbed in good deeds as to have missed
praying; while others have been so
buried in praying as to lose thought OF the
good deeds.
This much we may say of our national
constitution: there was never written
since the world began another which had
more of Gods truth in it, more Of mans
and which has been a greater
blessing to the world.
Mr.. Alexander, the gentleman above
is an enthusiast in this cause.
was interested first in his noble, ven
cradle appearance. He reminded me of
the late Gov. @. g. Washburn. though he
is older, an octogenarian even. He is
thorough Presbyterian, but carries in his
face and manner and speech genial
catholic spirit. He is flexible in his
charity; as fixed as steel post in his
principles. He has no faith in the worlds
battles where God has not planned and
Christ Is not captain. He has no hope
that our republic can be successful if
Christianity is not made its central force.
He is suspicious that the Present is in
danger of being broken between idolatry
and skepticism; that is, conservatism
which has popery for it's end on the one
hand, and an unbelief on the other which
must complete its race in anarchy. And
yet he stands erect in grand, solid
faith; he believes there is Divine power
at hand ready to mend our mistakes and
cure our sins if we will accept of it; that
this power will win the battle at last.
Our home for the winter is the
"Piney Woods Hotel"
Names of this character are SO often
misleading, you may suppose that there
is not even pine tree anywhere about
here, but in this case we are not de-
ceived. There is a boundless abundance
of pine woods; pine woods are charac-
teristic feature of this country-of all
of southern Georgia, I imagine. They
stretch away in dark masses on all sides
of us, and we are never out of sight Of
them. We can enter their inviting shade
a few rods in front of the hotel. The
roads divide these fragrant forests every
where into long vistas, now winding, now
straight. The pines are interspersed with
gum trees, oak, magnolia and other
growths. Many of the trees are orna-
mented with long, dropping pendants Of
gray Deoss and intertwined with endless
vines. The magnolias and live oaks keep
their shiny green all winter. Patches Of
open land, cornfelds, cottonfelds, dreary
pastures and pear orchards break the
woods here and there. Pear raising is
quite successful. 1t is too cold here for
oranges. We have seen the mercury down
in the twenties; to-day it is up in the
seventies. The soil IS poor, sandy, with
some clay, and of nearly all the colors of
the rainbow; that is, one will ride over
all these colors in an afternoons trip.
The people do not literally throw stones
at each other for there are none to throw;
it is an absolutely stoneless region. ]
saw the other day, in the pine woods,
close by stream which turned some rat
thing wheels, what, when invented, made
an epoch in the South cotton gin; it